Engdahl, George 1969-10-09
In Fred Carpenter’s second interview, George Engdahl discusses the origin and history of East Sweden, a community of Swedish emigrants in Central Texas. He and others examine pictures and records relating to the community’s history. Frank Hurd also provides numerous comments.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: George Engdahl
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: October 9, 1969; February 13, 1970; July 23, 1970
Location: East Sweden, Texas and Rochelle, McCulloch County, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Carpenter and Elmer Kelton
Length: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
October 9, 1969,
East Sweden, Texas,
Interviewer: Fred Carpenter,
1 hourHistory of Swenson family read from printed sheets,
Mentions Swedish emigrants to Texas,
Discussion of the origin of East Sweden and Hurd family,
Engdahl family history recalled,
Early East Sweden and Rochelle described,
Cotton industry in central Texas reviewed,
Anecdote about traveling in central Texas
Tape 1, Side 2:
Anecdote (continued),
Description of country dances,
Relation of prairie dogs and mesquite brush stated,
Speculation on future of small farms,
Recollections of cattle drives,
Explains experiences with cattle shoot program,
Deer hunting, past and present, examined,
Family relations clarified,
Discusses Swedish emigration,
Jenny Lind mentioned and Swenson's friendship with Sam Houston cited
Tape 2, Side 1:
20 minutesPictures and records examined,
Changed from Lutheran to Presbyterian faith because of frontier conditions,
Discussion of photographs (continued),
Persons in photographs identified
Tape 2, Side 2:
Blank
Tape 3, Side 1:
February 13, 1970,
Rochelle, McCulloch County, Texas,
Interviewer: Elmer Kelton,
30 minutesOutlaw story from Grandmother Metcalf, 1887,
Stagecoach driver and outlaw incident, 1850,
Horse thief and posse anecdote,
Unmarked graves around Soldier's Waterhole,
Old Rochelle affected by railroad,
Old stores,
Covered wagon trip to Georgetown, 1899,
Incident of rebuilding wagon wheel,
Outlaws of San Saba,
Beauty of Colorado River recalled,
Homesteading attempt near Taos, New Mexico,
Anecdote concerning Indian John,
Story of New Mexico cliff dwellings,
South Plains land description,
Use of burros to freight gasoline,
($0.20 in Texas, $0.40 in New Mexico)
Tape 3, Side 2:
New Mexico terrain,
Irrigated land near Amarillo,
Engdahl stock farm described,
Prairie dog control of brush
Tape 4, Side 1:
July 23, 1970,
45 minutesPrairie dogs control mesquite brush,
Story of buried treasure and marked oak trees - 1900,
Mine shaft - quartz on Davis Ranch,
Mine found in 1930s,
Story of Spanish mines,
Indian tools found,
Stories of finding lead and silver,
Anecdote concerning Jim Bowie,
Spanish mines around Menard
Tape 4, Side 2:
Copper mining by Spaniards,
Mission treasure story,
Spider Rock incident (J. Frank Dobie story),
Treasure hunters around Soldier's Waterhole
Range Dates: 1850-1930s
Bulk Dates: 1850-1930s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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